Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue plus share
options outstanding (thousands)

314,347

314,587

Diluted underlying earnings per share (cents per share)

40.5

43.0

Underlying earnings after tax is presented to allow stakeholders to make an assessment and comparison of underlying earnings after removing the non-cash fair value movements in financial instruments, the effect of the change in corporate tax rules as well as other items that the Group considers to be one off in nature.